Gold Country Buzzards

Gold Country Ol' Buzzards Game Report #17

Game: August 12, 2012

Dragons pin Buzzards in hot game, 10-2

On the hottest Sunday of the summer with temps over 100° at game time, the Ol' Buzzards (12-5-1) travelled to C-Bar-C Park in Citrus Heights to take-on the Dragons (16-2). The 2 o'clock start time meant the teams would face the high heat of the day, so the managers agreed to a seven-inning game. With two games left in the regular season and playoff spots locked in, a shorter game was a good idea. Both teams were also short-handed in numbers: the Buzzard 11 against the Dragon 12.

The starting pitchers throwing from a mini-mound were right-handers Eric 'Sneaky' Guimont #27 for the Dragons and Mike 'Big Mac' McCabe #32 taking the mound for the Buzzards.

Since this game followed the 35+ Cardinals' game, big mouth Fish was there drinking beer and greeting Buzzards. Yardley was there also to say hi. Fish saved his special welcome for Tony. As the beer flowed through Fish's gills for the next 2 1/2 hours, his chatter was sometimes funny, but nearly constant, loud and repetitive. Sounds just like Fish with more later.

The Dragons were the visiting team on the schedule and batted first. The lead-off batter, Fred Fenton, hit a full-count pitch sharply down the left field line for a single. Freddie was running hard and going for two as left-fielder, Mark 'Weed' Fowler, hustled to the line and showed off his arm with a strong throw to the cut-off man Dave 'Evy' Everingham. Shortstop, Evy, then threw a perfect low strike to Dan 'Wookie' Wukmir at the bag. The good throws beat the sliding Dragon. So, Wook did the easy part, put the glove down and let Freddie slide into it for the first out of the game. Nice relay play for an exciting first out of the game.

After a high fly out to right-fielder, Don 'Redondo' Colbert for the second out, Mark 'Broken Nose' Parsons hit the first-pitch fastball over the left field fence for a solo homer and the only run of the first inning. Parsons broke his nose against the Buzzards several years ago on a pitch from Kephart. Mark somehow hit a curve-ball into his face and instantly flattened his nose. On that particular game the Dragons were very short-handed, so Parsons drove himself from Colfax to the Auburn hospital holding a towel to his face to get treatment. Nice guy, good hit, crooked nose and he still sounds funny since that day.

The Dragons scored two more runs in the second inning with a hit batter and three singles. A two-out flare to left by Dragon manager, Larry Whitmer, scored the two runs.

The Buzzards bounced back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Mike 'Bake' Baker led-off with a first-pitch double to the right-center field gap. Running for Bake at second was Kevin 'Flash' Krantz. Up next, Tony 'Honey Badger' Brashear - getting the most attention from the big mouth Fish - singled up the middle to knock in Flash. Batting next, Pete 'Baron' Von Zboray hit a fly to left field that was misplayed putting runners at first and second. Two outs later, the pitcher, Big Mac, knocked in Honey Badger on an infield grounder. And that was the extent of the Buzzard scoring.  The Buzzards threatened in nearly every inning, but could not get that extra hit to score more runs.

The Dragons scored again in the third inning on a double and single. Jeff 'High Kick' Hansen #11 took the mound for the Dragons in the fourth inning. Through five frames, the game was close and the score was 4-2 Dragons.

The Dragons scored three runs in the sixth and seventh innings on a few hits, a bunt and sloppy defense. Lots of hot bright sun and a bumpy 'moon-like' infield with the hard hitting Dragons made for an adventurous late afternoon.

Terry 'Caveman' Kelley #40 came in to pitch the seventh inning. He wanted some work, so the Buzzard defense cooperated and made him get six outs before the inning ended on a terrific catch of a flare by Evy in shallow left field.

The mound was low and the blind home plate ump was a challenge, but Buzzard pitching threw strikes and got the team out of jams several times with key strike-outs. McCabe threw six innings giving up three earned runs on 14 hits with one walk, one hit batsman and five strike-outs. He faced 33 green Dragons and threw 115 pitches (69 strikes & 46 balls). Caveman Kelley closed out the game by facing nine batters and throwing 25 pitches (16 strikes & 9 balls).

TK gave up zero earned runs on two hits and one walk in the seventh dig. The Buzzard's had runners in scoring position in five of the seven innings. Just one hit short of more runs was frustrating all afternoon, but good pitching and defense by the Dragons were the reasons.

There was only one double-play for the Buzzard defense. In the sixth with the bases loaded, one out and three runs already scored, a line drive toward second was snagged by Wookie on the run. He then continued to run toward the bag for a force-out on the runner to end the inning. Good D in the third inning, a shoe-top running catch by Flash in center field ended the inning with runners on base and running on the hit. Behind the plate, Jim 'Milli' Milligan was a rock and did not seem to mind the heat with all that gear on - must be the moose antler fuzz nutrients and that green drink.

The Buzzard hit club for the game included Bake, Baron, Big Mac, Caveman, Honey Badger (2), and Weeder. Bake and Caveman's doubles were the extent of the extra base hits. The runs were knocked in by Tony and Mike. The eagle-eyed walkers were Evy, Flash and Big Mac. Stolen bases were snagged by Evy, Flash and Redondo.

For those Buzzards that stuck around afterward and shared cold drinks with the Dragons, they were thoroughly entertained by the still chattering, hugging, dropping his pants for laughs and drinking - Fish. Tony took the brunt of it and seemed to semi-enjoy it.

When the beer ran out hours later, Fish left the park headed to a bar....with Tony.

Buzzard Note #1: Be sure and RSVP to Don and Emily regarding this Saturday's Buzzards/Braves team party at the Colbert's.

Buzzard Note #2: The last regular season game is this Sunday, August 19th. We are playing the Bulldogs at James Field. The schedule is not published yet, but we asked for a morning game. More to come.

Buzzard Note #3: The play-offs begin on August 26th. We will play the Valley Cats in the single-elimination game. Time and place to be announced later.